Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1490 Meeting with the Governor
"Look, this is obviously a weapon forged by pagans, but it is stained with the blood of Christians," the sheriff said sarcastically. "Even if he is a fraudster, he is still a fraudster praying before Christ."

Governor Juan Salamanca has remained silent on gossip from officials.After the servants took away the count's gifts according to his instructions, the governor suddenly asked the sheriff: "Mr. Shooting monkeys, do you know about this?"

The police chief was taken aback and couldn't say anything immediately.Instigated by Sanabria and others with ulterior motives, he tried to find out the count's ins and outs, as well as the secrets of his house.The police chief tried his best to bribe and intimidate, and he finally managed to control a Tagalog servant in the earl's mansion. Unfortunately, the servant only spread worthless news once and then disappeared.Until one day when the earl was entertaining the colonial officials, he inadvertently complained during the dinner that a greedy servant had stolen too much rum, so that he became drunk and jumped into the sea to commit suicide.

The internal route of developing informants failed, as did the native spies sent to monitor the villa.Weiss bribed the fishermen and farmers in the surrounding villages, suspicious strangers who would be chased away when they appeared during the day.A few particularly hard-working voyeurs will lurk until after sunset before sneaking up on them in the dark. Without exception, special investigation team snipers equipped with night vision goggles and Mosin Nagan rifles on watchtowers will send A warhead or two was loaded as a reward for his work ethic and patience.Sometimes Weiss brings his FAL rifle to the "Low Visibility Target Shooting Competition" - of course he comes first every time.Colonial officials heard nothing more than a few complaints from the earl at the banquet-the monkeys in the outskirts of Manila were infested.In order to protect the famous tree Jiaguo in the garden, he had to patrol the garden all night, shooting at the monkeys climbing up the courtyard wall at any time.

Naturally, Mr. Brambilla couldn't see the remains of the "monkeys"—their fate was the same, whether they were shot dead or seriously injured, and without exception, they were tied with a big rock and thrown into Manila Bay.However, after the spies he sent out one after another never returned, the sheriff finally realized that his opponent was not easy to mess with, and with the increasing popularity of Count Vananova, this kind of shady surveillance and investigation was still early. It's good to end with a little bit.But these shady things were shaken out in public by the top boss, and the police chief suddenly felt cold hands and feet and was at a loss.

"The Earl has the right to sue you in the Supreme Court of the Colony for abusing the powers bestowed upon him by His Majesty the King, if he so chooses. And I can also accuse you of negligence. What you have done is squandering precious money and human resources to irrelevant you have allowed the spies of the Netherlands to run amok in your jurisdiction. The crimes they have committed have threatened the whole colony and the safety of all His Majesty's subjects. I would like to hear what you have to say about this of!"

The Governor's scolding echoed in the silent hall.He didn't have seizures for no reason.Nearly a month ago, a strange fire reduced the largest cockfighting arena in Parian to a smoking ruin. It was at dusk, the busiest time of the day, and more than 300 gamblers, spectators, including many Spaniards and Europeans Passengers were killed in the flames.Before the fire was extinguished, it also burned down dozens of Chinese shops.What bothered the Governor of Salamanca most was that taxation on cockfighting gambling had become one of Manila's financial pillars.The cockfighting farm was destroyed, causing the colonial government to lose thousands of pesos of income every day.This angered the governor, who was spending money like water. Baguio's gold is indeed bright, but there are too many unknowns in mining and transportation. It is not as safe and reliable as the cockfighting tax that can provide a fixed income every day.

The fire in the cockfighting ground has not yet been sorted out, and the wharf area on the Pasig River is on fire again.Many valuable Chinese goods had just been unloaded from the ship and moved into the dock warehouse, where there were also more precious Australian goods, all of which were burned by the fire.This time someone reported seeing suspicious persons before the fire broke out.The sheriff arrested a lot of people indiscriminately, and released most of the Chinese after blackmailing them one by one. A few aborigines who were so poor that they couldn't squeeze oil out of their bones were thrown into prison as arson suspects. .Not long after, there was another terrible incident in which the escort team transporting military supplies was attacked outside the city.Survivors reported that although the attackers were few in number, they were well-armed and well-trained, apparently not native bandits.

Just when the whole city was panicked by one disaster after another, more reliable bad news came from Formosa. Dutch ships frequently appeared in the northern part of the island, attacked supply ships, and even fired at the Spanish defenses near the coast.There is no doubt that the Dutch are about to launch an attack on San Salvador and Santo Domingo.Although most of the Spaniards in the Philippines do not care about the two colonies that did not bring many Chinese goods, the bad news one after another has somewhat changed the attitudes of the military and political officials in the colonies. The vigilance of the Dutch invading and sending spies to act as saboteurs does not seem so unreasonable, but a threat that may become reality at any time.

"Your Excellency," Zapatero reminded cautiously, as if interrupting His Highness the Governor's temper is also a terrible thing, "the count is waiting outside."

The city officials tactfully got up and prepared to leave, including the sheriff who had been slumped in his chair.However, the governor stopped the head of the Parian District: "Mr. Aguilar, I entrust you with the task of making saltpeter from dung. You can rely on the Chinese under your jurisdiction. It is said that they have always had a tradition of collecting dung as fertilizer. , which is very beneficial to complete your work and solve our current difficulties."

"Your orders must be fulfilled!" Juan Aguilar cried frantically. "I swear to Jesus Christ and to you, on my honor, that I will not squander a single penny of His Majesty's colonial treasury. But the construction Projects always cost money, please allow me to solicit another community public fund from the Chinese.”

"Yes, but remember not to oppress them too much. The Chinese are still very useful to us. But you have to pay attention to those suspicious people. Most of them are spies sent by the Netherlands. Once you find the Chinese with weapons and firearms, Don't hesitate, arrest immediately."

The grey-faced sheriff, the distraught mayor, the ecstatic Mayor Parian, and others all walked out.Weislando was guided by a servant to come in from the other side door.The governor looked at his black satin cavalry uniform, and sure enough, there was no saber under the belt, only a short sword with some strange Chinese characters engraved on the hilt.The governor of Salamanca was amazed by the strange features of the oriental colony, which seemed to have been conquered by the Chinese and their way of life and national symbols.Even the Spaniards in the colonies are used to traveling in and out of Chinese sedan chairs, and they always have a folding fan written on illuminated paper with Chinese characters in their hands.The governor did not like this fashion, especially when he found that the visitor was looking at him with an immodest look.

"Mr. Vincenzo," the governor said, omitting Weiss' peerage and title, pointing to an armchair near the end of the table.Weiss sat down without paying attention, at least this position was close to the fan hanging from the ceiling.A Negrito crouched in the corner, feebly pulling the rope, driving the wooden frame covered with fan blades to swing back and forth, which was the only way to relieve the heat.Malakanan Palace, which Weiss had visited as an American soldier, was just a piece of wasteland by the Pasig River, and in this plane, there were no etiquette and rituals. Weiss was also displeased with being received by the Philippine Supreme Ruler in a rancid smelling room.

"Stinky Spanish pigs," he cursed inwardly, though the smile was still on his face.

The Governor continued, in a nonchalant tone to his subordinate officials: "I am glad that you have come at my summons, but I have asked you to come to remind you that the colony of the Philippines is governed by His Majesty's decree of the Indian Islands. Code, and the statutory code and part of the customary law of our country. Killing a person in a duel is not permitted under any law, you should know."

"Your Excellency, for an innocent person, what you said is absolutely correct. But for a damned person, what difference does it make if the execution is carried out sooner or later?" Weiss pressed his hand on the fake version hanging on his belt The sword - which he bought from a certain senator for a fine Toledo sword - replied calmly: "Esteban Sanabria is a liar. He forged government documents and bond contracts." He not only stole and defrauded law-abiding men of their property, but also extorted them. He evaded taxes in every possible way to endanger the country. He engaged in smuggling, and even sold arms and gunpowder to the enemies of the empire. He also committed murder. He seized property, tortured and murdered Filipinos, Chinese and Mexicans who had converted to God. He himself was a suspicious new Christian, and even secretly maintained the lowly heresy of Jews. The royal prosecutor from Madrid told me that he Petitions and denunciations against Esteban Sanabria have now filled the room where he lives. Shouldn't a man of such crimes deserve to die? God kills by whichever hand he chooses Isn't it all his divine judgment that the villain should die?"

(End of this chapter)